The leading film entity Balaji Motion Pictures recently shot a part of its much-awaited film Once Upon A Time in Mumbaai 2 in the Sultanate of Oman. The sequel to the 2010 blockbuster, which is top-lined by superstars like Akshay Kumar, Sonakshi Sinha, Imran Khan and Sonali Bendre, is slated for an August 8, 2013 release worldwide.
This was the first time that a major Bollywood film was shot in Oman. Speaking about the destination and the experience of shooting in the country, Tanuj Garg, CEO – Balaji Motion Pictures said, “Oman is a stunning country with varied landscapes. We required a good mix of retro and contemporary for the part we wanted to shoot there, and Oman gave us a lot more. It has a lot to offer visually, which worked well for us as film-makers.”
“There are so many beautiful locations across the globe but little did we know that a country of such stark yet stunning beauty is a neighboring country. We needed a location of pristine beauty in the Middle East, and Oman, a relatively virgin location, worked for us like a charm. It’s a rich mix of sea, sand and mountains,” added director Milan Luthria.
The Muscat-based Tour Oman (the in-bound tours division of Travel Point LLC), the country’s national carrier Oman Air and the stunning beach-side hotel property, The Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa, played vital roles in the arrangement.
Said Mahesh Ramamurthy (of Tour Oman), “We were glad to be the Oman Hospitality Partners for such a big film. We facilitated various familiarization trips and the communication between Balaji and the MoT. We are thrilled for Oman to be represented in the film and look forward to its release.”
The film shoot, a first of its kind in and for Oman, is set to bring the destination to limelight. “Oman’s stunning locale was a destination of choice for the producers of Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai 2 and it fits seamlessly into the script of the movie. We believe that through the movie the audiences will see the different facets of Oman in their natural splendor,” says Lubaina Sheerazi, Ministry of Tourism, Oman-India representative.
The film was shot at the Qantab Beach, Qurum Corniche, Central Business District and The Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort & Spa.
